Twentieth Century Taiwan
"I'm sorry, but I have an urgent matter and need to see President Long Yang," Chen Wen-bin stood in the center of the lobby, his face calm, though his heart was already in turmoil. Oh my! What a dangerous person! From the moment he stepped through the grand entrance, he immediately noticed him.
This man was tall and strong, but what made him stand out was not his cold attire of black clothing, nor the detached aura he exuded; it was his eyes. They were filled with a chilling intensity that sent shivers down Chen Wen-bin's spine, reminding him of a lion prowling in the jungles of North America.
If the rumors were true, the man before him was certainly Lei Jie, the deputy president of the "Longmen Society," known for his keen intellect and calm demeanor, and ranked just below the society's president, Long Yang.
"I am Chen Wen-bin from Ming Lun Investigation Company. I was informed by your Canadian headquarters that President Long arrived in Taiwan five days ago and is staying here. I have important documents to deliver to him personally," he quickly stated his purpose, instinctively loosening the tight tie around his neck and nervously watching Lei Jie.
Lei Jie raised an eyebrow, leaning casually against the wall, his inscrutable gaze appraising him.
At that moment, from a nearby bedroom, a distinctly recognizable sound of feminine moans echoed through the air.
Chen Wen-bin's face flushed with embarrassment. "Uh… I'm sorry. If President Long is busy, I can wait," he stammered, feeling awkward at the unexpected situation.
This was one of the many enterprises under the "Longmen Society," located in a recently constructed skyscraper that resembled a miniature city. The building featured a shopping mall from the first to the tenth floor, a five-star hotel from the eleventh to the twentieth floor, and offices for senior executives on the twenty-first to twenty-seventh floors. The twenty-eighth floor served as a lounge for the society's top officials.
It went without saying that he was currently standing on the twenty-eighth floor.
Chen Wen-bin took a deep breath, forcing himself to relax his tense shoulders. As Lei Jie scrutinized him, he tried to remain composed and surveyed the opulent interior decor.
The lobby, spanning approximately thirty to forty ping, was lavishly adorned with imported crimson carpets. In the center stood a deep blue set of large sofas, while the walls displayed four distinctive white sculptures.
Above him, a chandelier comprised of twelve rainbow-like crystal rays sparkled, and the platinum-colored ceiling was intricately decorated with elegant embossed floral patterns, complemented by soft blue drapes that lent an air of sophistication.
Chen Wen-bin inhaled deeply, unable to deny the enchanting combination of decorations that created an atmosphere of high elegance.
As he carefully examined the lobby, he noticed, besides the dangerous man before him, another striking figure with a fair complexion and a refined demeanor, casually sipping from a glass at the small bar on the right side.
He was sure this man was Bai Hao-ran, another deputy president of the "Longmen Society," known for his sharp mind and eloquence, earning him the nickname "Silver Fox."
Unexpectedly encountering such two elusive figures left Chen Wen-bin feeling overwhelmed.
Oh, how he wished he could have a drink to calm his frayed nerves!
Lei Jie seemed to finish his assessment and, with a deep gaze, casually said, "He's busy, but he'll be free shortly. Would you like a drink while you wait?" It was as if he had sensed Chen Wen-bin's thoughts, his lazy demeanor enticing him.
Chen Wen-bin quickly shook his head, dismissing the thought of using alcohol to escape. Although he longed for a drink to relieve his tension, he knew better than to indulge. Drinking would dull his senses, and what he needed most was a clear mind and complete focus to face the legendary figure he had both admired and feared—President Long Yang.
He understood that Long Yang was a cold, ruthless, yet astute leader. His ability to build the "Longmen Society" into a massive organization in just six years spoke volumes about his formidable character.
Longmen Society had once been an inconspicuous gang within the underworld. However, under Long Yang's leadership, the society underwent a radical transformation, absorbing elite talents from both legal and illegal spheres, all meticulously trained and managed.
Furthermore, within two years, Long Yang had transitioned the society's shadowy dealings into legitimate enterprises, moving towards corporate internationalization, making the "Longmen Society" a rising star in the business world—an economic miracle spoken of in hushed tones.
Everyone connected to the "Longmen Society" became swept up in this unexpected storm of frenzy.
However, they were not content and were even more ambitiously expanding their influence, continuously attracting massive funding and nurturing exceptional talent. Today, the "Longmen Society" stood as a top-tier economic power, representing undeniable authority and wealth, leaving all other groups in its dust.
Thus, a consensus emerged among those who breathed, whether in politics, business, or the underworld—they all aspired to curry favor with this formidable organization. Everyone desperately sought a connection to the "Longmen Society" for personal gain, and this was not without reason.
So, when a month ago, their company received an overseas call from the "Longmen Society's" Canadian headquarters, the entire staff—from the boss to the janitor—was left speechless.
As Chen Wen-bin returned to reality, he was startled to find that the previously relaxed Lei Jie had walked to a beautifully carved door.
He knocked lightly, and a deep voice responded from inside, "Come in."
Lei Jie gently opened the door. "Long, someone is here to see you."
Through the crack of the door, Chen Wen-bin caught sight of two bare bodies entwined. The moonlight streaming into the bedroom illuminated Long Yang, whose black hair glinted silver against the light.
With his 1.75-meter vision, Chen Wen-bin could vaguely see the curvaceous woman, now dressed in a tight wine-red dress, rising from Long Yang's embrace. Long Yang, indifferent, donned a black silk robe draped carelessly around him.
When Long Yang casually turned his face, Chen Wen-bin was left speechless, his mind blank. Handsome was the only thought that occupied him. This was the face of the legendary figure—the president of the "Longmen Society," stunning beyond belief!
Long Yang, the embodiment of raw male charisma, revealed his bronze skin through the open robe.
It seemed Long Yang was oblivious to his presence, turning to face the now-dressed woman, flashing a smile that was both alluring and mischievous.
That smile left Chen Wen-bin in utter disbelief, stunned at the jarring contrast between this moment and the cold, ruthless leader he had imagined.
He was breathless, thinking how this man could easily be a movie star.
At that moment, he couldn't tear his gaze away, still standing in a daze.
Long Yang escorted the woman to the door, closing it behind her before Chen Wen-bin finally snapped back to reality.
"How was it, Long?" a low, teasing voice inquired.
Turning his head, Chen Wen-bin was surprised to see Bai Hao-ran, the "Silver Fox," who had remained aloof at the bar.
Long Yang made a playful face and sat down beside him with a smirk.
"It was alright! Great figure, enthusiastic, but..." Long Yang furrowed his brow, accepting the whiskey Bai Hao-ran offered and downing it in one go, "I got bored halfway through."
Bai Hao-ran, incredulous, exclaimed, "No way!"
"Why not?" Long Yang replied casually, pouring another drink.
"Because, just looking at that satisfied expression on Jin Haini's face when she looked at you, I think your performance should be commendable, making her extremely happy, right?" Bai Haoran teased, his eyes sparkling with charming amusement.
Long Yang snorted disdainfully. "Who knows?" The corners of his lips curled into a sarcastic smile. "Women usually represent trouble, especially beautiful women. They are the best at playing games of deception. Don't let their gentle and accommodating demeanor fool you; their inner calculations are quite formidable. If we men don't watch out, we might end up having our bones picked clean without even realizing it." He slowly sipped his drink, looking unconcerned.
"Wow, wow, wow!" Bai Haoran's eyes turned mischievous as he replied, "What deep insights! Could it be that this is from your personal experience?" His teasing gaze held a knowing look.
"Shut your mouth!" Long Yang shot him a glare and playfully punched his shoulder. "Don't twist my words!"
"I'm not twisting anything," Bai Haoran replied with the most serious expression. "This is exactly what you just said. If you don't believe me, I can call Leijie as a witness." He appeared very self-righteous.
Long Yang wasn't one to be easily outsmarted. He slowly raised an enigmatic smile. "From your look, it seems you don't quite agree with my view. Since that's the case, why don't you share your thoughts so I can listen?"
Bai Haoran laughed knowingly; even a fool could see that Long Yang was laying a trap for him. But since he wasn't an idiot, he wasn't about to fall into it. With a glint of mischief in his eyes, he said, "No, I have no opinions. I completely agree with you and give you both hands and feet in support."
"Is that so?" Long Yang narrowed his eyes, skeptical. "Why do I feel like your smile is quite cunning?" He teased, knowing Bai Haoran was a true old fox.
"Cunning?" Bai Haoran exclaimed, touching his handsome face with an innocent expression. "No way! Many people think I look quite cute when I smile. How could I be cunning? You must be mistaken, or maybe you're just jealous." He lifted his chin confidently.
"Jealous?!" Long Yang's expression turned incredulous.
Leijie rolled his eyes as usual, adopting a cool demeanor of indifference, while Chen Wenbin stared wide-eyed, unable to close his mouth in shock.
"You're really getting more and more shameless!" Long Yang scoffed, looking disgusted.
Bai Haoran felt victorious. He leisurely threw a flirty glance at Long Yang and said with an unmistakable smirk, "Thank you for the compliment! Being shameless is my proudest quality. It's rare for you to appreciate it, truly befitting of our Dragon Gate Society's president; what keen insight!" He laughed heartily.
Long Yang felt he had no way to deal with him, muttering a few words under his breath, too tired to continue the banter. His gaze finally shifted to Chen Wenbin, who had been waiting nearby, his eyes full of inquiry.
"You are…?" He raised an eyebrow slightly.
Coming back to his senses, Chen Wenbin hurriedly bowed. "President Long, I'm Chen Wenbin, the manager of Minglun Investigation Company. We've discussed the truth about the death of your father, Mr. Long Shaode, several times over the phone through your secretary." He seemed a bit anxious.
Long Yang's smile instantly vanished. He abruptly stood up and walked towards Chen Wenbin. As he sat down across from him in the hall, his gentle expression had been replaced by a stern one.
Long Yang leaned back into the chair, his tall and sturdy figure sinking into the backrest. "So? Do you have any leads?" His tone was icy, with a chilling glare that made one shiver. "Was it a natural accident? Or was it a murder? I'm starting to lose patience with your company's efficiency. It's been a month since I entrusted you to investigate this matter, and there's still no news. Perhaps your company's esteemed reputation is just empty talk. Maybe I should contact your rival, He Sheng Investigation Company. I suspect they won't be as inefficient as you."
Chen Wenbin felt like he had been struck hard, sinking into despair.
Honestly, when he first saw Long Yang, he thought the rumors were exaggerated. After all, Long Yang didn't seem like a cold and ruthless person. But he was wrong—very wrong. Now he realized that all the descriptions of Long Yang's ruthless and icy personality from the outside were far from exaggerated.
He took a deep breath, hardly daring to meet the gaze of the dangerous man sitting across from him. He could feel the sharpness and coldness in Long Yang's words, and suddenly felt a chill run through him. His teeth almost chattered from the cold, and he suppressed the urge to rub his arms for warmth.
Chen Wenbin prided himself on being observant, which had helped him rise from an insignificant employee to his current managerial position. However, the man before him—seemingly harmless yet incredibly dangerous—made him feel lost and unpredictable, as if he were in the same cage with a ferocious tiger, constantly on edge. One wrong move, and he might be devoured.
He hurriedly apologized, "President Long, please don't be angry. This is exactly why I rushed here to see you today."
As he spoke, Chen Wenbin nervously opened the briefcase he had brought and took out a file that was clearly just organized. He presented it to Long Yang.
As soon as Long Yang received the document, his expression grew serious. He lowered his head and quickly began to read. Meanwhile, Leijie, who had been standing silently nearby, and Bai Haoran, sitting at the bar, approached without making a sound, leaning in to watch.
Long Yang's handsome face grew colder as he read, his deep, unfathomable black eyes now shrouded in an ominous darkness, suggesting an impending storm. It was easy to see that he was filled with a sense of urgency and violence.
Chen Wenbin was known for his calm and steady demeanor at work, which he took pride in. But seeing Long Yang—once a mafia boss, now a ruthless figure in politics and business—he felt a wave of panic as he observed the icy expression on Long Yang's face as he read the file.
He had never seen such an intensely cold expression on anyone's face, like frost in the dead of winter. Instinctively, he held himself taut, feeling as if he were pulled tightly like a bowstring. In his imagination, he suddenly envisioned multiple severed heads being kicked out of the window, and to his horror, he realized that one of them was his own.
At that moment, Chen Wenbin regretted not writing a will before coming here. He could only pray in silence, hoping to leave this place with his life intact amidst the chilling atmosphere.
In this tense and serious ambiance, Long Yang finally raised his head, his expression inscrutable, making it impossible to guess what he was thinking.
"I suspected correctly; my father was indeed murdered back then." Long Yang's voice was distant and cold, his piercing black eyes filled with a clear intent to kill. "Have you investigated who was behind this?" His gaze was chilling and ominous as it fixed on Chen Wenbin.
Chen Wenbin shifted uneasily; if he weren't seated on the couch, he would probably have collapsed into a puddle on the floor from the weakness in his legs.
How ridiculous! It was the first time he felt so powerless and vulnerable. He didn't understand why he was so afraid.
"What's the situation?" Long Yang's face was icy, his voice laced with cold fury.
Chen Wenbin struggled to maintain a calm and steady voice. "W-well… not yet." He lowered his head, answering vaguely.
"What?!" Long Yang narrowed his eyes, his expression one of someone ready to swallow Chen Wenbin whole. "You mean to say that up until now, there hasn't been any trace of the mastermind behind this?" His voice exuded a dangerous calmness that made Chen Wenbin tremble.
"N-no, that's not it, President Long." Chen Wenbin's face turned pale from anxiety, cold sweat pouring from his forehead and palms like a faucet left running. "We have some initial leads, but due to the long time that has passed and our urgent timeline, we haven't been able to conduct a more in-depth investigation. So I wanted to ask if you could give us another week—one week from now, I promise I'll deliver the most complete information to you." His voice trembled as he spoke weakly.
Damn it! What on earth is going on? Why does he look like he's about to pass out? Goodness, if anyone sees me like this, I'll never be able to show my face again! Chen Wenbin thought.
"Are you sure?" Long Yang's eyes narrowed, his face frigid.
Chen Wenbin forced himself to nod. "Yes, I'm sure! I guarantee that in a week, I will give you a complete answer." Or I'll bring my head to you. Goodness, that almost slipped out! Thankfully, thankfully!
After a moment of contemplation, Long Yang's expression remained cold as he nodded indifferently. "Fine. I'll give your company another chance, but I hope you can provide me with a satisfactory explanation then." His gaze turned sharp as he looked at Chen Wenbin. "Remember, only one week." He coldly reminded him, ending the conversation.
Chen Wenbin nodded vigorously, almost too eager. "Yes, President Long, I'll take my leave now."
He hurriedly stood up, greeting Long Yang, as well as Bai Haoran and Lei Jie sitting at the other end, before grabbing his briefcase and rushing out as if being chased by a wild beast, leaving behind the place that had aged him several years.
Bai Haoran whistled, "Long, why have we never heard you mention your father's incident before?"
Long Yang smiled faintly, his gaze thoughtful. "That was before I joined the gang, so I never told anyone."
"I see!" Bai Haoran nodded in understanding.
"So you're saying that your trip to Taiwan is officially for inspecting branch operations, but really, the main purpose is to investigate this matter?" Lei Jie asked pointedly, a rare concern on his usually stern face.
"Exactly." Long Yang replied calmly, his brow furrowed, his expression rigid.
His gaze was lost in deep thought, staring out into the dark night beyond the glass window, remaining dazed for a long time, as if contemplating something. Bai Haoran and Lei Jie seemed to fall into their own thoughts, leaving the large living room enveloped in silence.
"Long, tell us what happened," Lei Jie said seriously after a while, looking at him intently; it was time for them to know!
Long Yang pressed his lips together, seeming not to hear him, remaining silent until finally, after some time, his gaze shifted from the window to them, his head stiffly turning, his strong shoulders tense.
"My biological father was an alcoholic," Long Yang finally spoke, his voice thick and taut, like a bowstring drawn tight. "He died from excessive drinking when I was three." His expression remained impassive, though there was a slight shift in his demeanor. "When I was five, my mother remarried my stepfather, Long Shaode, who raised me as his own son, giving me a very happy childhood.
"I always regarded him as my real father; he loved me even more than my biological father. Later…" His eyes dimmed. "In the year I turned ten, my mother passed away from stomach cancer, leaving just my father and me. However, we didn't grow distant; instead, we became even closer.
"That continued until I was fifteen. One night, a call from the police woke me up," Long Yang recounted methodically, his voice growing steadier and calmer, devoid of emotion, as if he were recounting something trivial. "They told me my father had an accident; his car went off the road into a valley on his way home, and he died on the spot."
"Alright, Long, that's enough. We already know." Lei Jie had somehow moved from the other end of the couch to his side, placing a hand on his shoulder, applying reassuring pressure. "It's all in the past," he comforted, his usually impassive face filled with concern.
Hearing this, Long Yang smirked sarcastically, his deep eyes staring unblinkingly at Lei Jie. "It is in the past," he replied distantly. "But now that I know it wasn't just an accident, I won't let him die in vain." There was a cold, sinister edge to his voice.
"What do you plan to do?" Bai Haoran asked, his expression calm as he observed him.
Long Yang's face darkened ominously, his cold black eyes filled with a clear intent to kill.
"An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth."
As the blinding light faded, Sanni blinked, standing dazed for a moment, her heart racing as if it might leap from her chest.
Wow! I did it! She succeeded! This is amazing!
Sanni was so excited she felt like screaming to let the whole world know that her time converter had transported her from the twenty-third century to—if the preset time was correct—this must be the twentieth century!
Oh my goodness! Sanni could hardly believe she was the first person in centuries to successfully complete a time converter and embark on a time travel adventure! Hooray! God was so good to her!
Laughing joyfully, Sanni felt every cell in her body come alive with excitement as she dashed around. She eagerly widened her eyes, looking around to touch the products of twentieth-century civilization.
The things Sanni encountered were scarce in her own century, as they were too old, a few hundred years out of date. Only about a dozen or so artifacts remained preserved and were classified as protected relics in history museums for public viewing.
Now, not only could she touch these things, but she could also swim in the torrent of history! How could she not be ecstatic about such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?
In her excitement, Sanni thoughtlessly picked up the first item she saw—a beautifully decorated gourd-shaped vase—and joyfully danced with it like a bird just released from its cage.
However, she forgot one thing: although God was kind, He also had a playful side. Following her great joy was a rather amusing little prank.
In her extreme excitement, Sanni accidentally caught her foot on the leg of the glass coffee table, and with a "bang," she plopped down onto the couch, while the vase—oh no!—did not share her good fortune.
The vase followed a graceful parabolic arc and landed beautifully, just half a foot away from the French liquor cabinet, shattering into pieces. This situation left Sanni momentarily stunned!